DEVELOPING A PROCURE PROTON THERAPY CENTER

How much does a proton therapy center cost to build?

The cost of developing a proton center reflects the complexity of construction as well as the sophisticated equipment involved. As with any advanced technology, the cost is significant, but well worth the investment when the benefits to patients are taken into consideration. Costs can vary depending on the size of the center being developed. A multi-room center could cost between $140 million and $200 million or more depending on the number of rooms.

Has ProCure done anything to help reduce the cost of building a proton center?

ProCure has been able to reduce the cost of developing proton centers by simplifying and standardizing design, construction, operations and technology. ProCure also was able to reduce the size of a proton therapy center to 60,000 square feet, compared to the average center which is 90,000 square feet or more, through innovation.

Who pays for the development of a ProCure Proton Therapy Center?

ProCure is a privately held company and funds the development of proton centers through a combination of debt and equity.

NEED FOR PROTON THERAPY

How many patients could benefit from proton therapy?

Of the 1.4 million people diagnosed with cancer every year in the United States, close to 60 percent (840,000) are treated with radiation. Experts conservatively estimate that approximately 30 percent (250,000) of those cancer patients could benefit from proton therapy, yet there is only capacity to treat about 6,000 patients per year in centers in the United States at this time.

How much patient demand is there for proton therapy?

In 2005, approximately 840,000 people received radiation therapy in the United States. A significant portion of this group would benefit from proton therapy. Most of the proton centers in the U.S. have waiting lists. Some centers report turning away four of every five patients who seek treatment. At this time, there are only about 6,000 treatment slots available in the United States each year.

Why is proton therapy so limited in its availability?

Building a proton center is complex, time consuming and costly. It requires a level of expertise that is not readily available in many healthcare organizations. It has taken other proton therapy centers five to ten years and more to be built - from planning through completion.

Where in the United States can I receive proton therapy today?

As of February 2010, seven proton therapy treatment centers were operating in the United States. They are located at: ProCure Proton Therapy Center, Oklahoma; Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston (affiliated with Harvard Medical School); M.D. Anderson Cancer Treatment Center in Houston; Midwest Proton Radiotherapy Institute, Indiana University in Bloomington; Loma Linda University Medical Center in Loma Linda, California; The Roberts Proton Therapy Center at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia; and the University of Florida in Jacksonville. In addition, there is a specialty proton center that treats only cancers of the eye at the University of California, Davis. Several more treatment centers are currently under construction and in development.

• Read More About Other Proton Therapy resources

Are there additional proton therapy centers that will be opening soon?

Yes. In Chicago, ProCure, in affiliation with Central DuPage Hospital and Radiation Oncology Consultants, is building a proton therapy center that is scheduled to open in early 2011. A number of other hospitals and academic institutions have announced plans for proton therapy centers.

PROTON THERAPY CENTER SAFETY

Are proton therapy centers safe or is radiation exposure a concern?

Proton therapy centers are safe and do not present a risk of radiation exposure.  The radiation in a proton center is electronically "turned on" when the proton beam is created. The radiation travels with the beam to the patient where it targets and kills the cancer cells. When the proton beam is turned off, the radiation disappears instantly. Proton centers do not have any type of portable or unsealed radioactive material and there is no "loose" radiation - meaning that nothing can spread or become a contamination hazard inside or in the vicinity of the proton center.

Is it safe to build a proton therapy facility in a residential area?

Yes, it is very safe. Proton therapy centers have been in existence for more than 50 years, and they have a demonstrated record of safe operations in the U.S. and abroad. They are so safe that Massachusetts General Hospital built its center in downtown Boston, and the proton center at the University of Florida is on the hospital campus right next to an apartment complex.

What type of radiation does a proton therapy facility create or use?

A proton treatment system does not produce radiation beyond that which is delivered to the patient's tumor to kill the cancer cells. That happens in treatment rooms where there is significant structural shielding and controls in place to ensure that people working inside the facility, patients and people outside the facility are safe. When the beam is turned off, the radiation disappears.

Proton centers do not have any type of portable or unsealed radioactive material and there is no "loose" radiation - meaning that nothing can spread or become a contamination hazard inside or in the vicinity of the proton center.

Is it safe to work in a proton therapy facility?

Yes, it is safe to work at a proton therapy facility. Proton therapy centers have been in operation for more than 50 years and they have a demonstrated safety record. The radiation safety standards in a proton center are the same as those in an X-ray radiation center, which is found in almost every hospital in the United States. There are monitoring devices in place to ensure safety. The radiation exposure that personnel are exposed to is very low. In fact, the exposure rates inside the clinic are often lower than the amount of radiation received outside, simply by being out in the sun.